On Tuesday, May 30th, the Los Angeles Lakers started their pre-draft workouts. The Lakers have invited several draft prospects to work out. They hope to get a better look at the talent available in this year’s draft. Los Angeles will make their selections in the first round at pick No. 17 and in the second round at pick No. 47 in the 2023 NBA draft on June 22nd.
Analyzing Lakers Pre-Draft Group Workout
Here is the list of draft prospects who worked out for the Lakers on Tuesday.
Marcus Carr – Texas, G
Djordjije Jovanovic – Ontario Clippers, G
Tyger Campbell – UCLA, G
Justyn Mutts, – Virginia Tech, F
Anton Watson – Gonzaga, F
Kevin Obanor – Texas Tech, F
Guards
Texas University’s Marcus Carr is a talented guard who led the Longhorns to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament. Averaging 15.9 points and four assists per game, his ability to score from all over the court makes him an ideal fit for the Lakers.
Djordjije Jovanovic from the Ontario Clippers is also a potential target for the Lakers. Another experienced guard, Jovanovic, averaged 6.0 points, 1.2 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.3 blocks. His ability to play at a high level and distribute the ball makes him an attractive option for the Lakers.
UCLA’s Tyger Campbell is arguably the most impressive guard in this group. Campbell can do it all, averaging 14.0 points, 7.0 assists, and 4.0 rebounds. He is also a capable defender with quick hands and feet, making him an excellent fit for the Lakers’ system.
Whoever the Lakers choose to go with, they will be getting a talented guard. Who has the potential to make an immediate impact on the team and help them reach their goals?
Forwards
Virginia Tech’s Justyn Mutts, a forward from Millville, New Jersey, has earned a reputation as a versatile player who can score, pass, and defend. He started 33 games for the Hokies, averaging 13.3 points per game while shooting 56.8 percent from the floor.
Gonzaga’s Anton Watson was no slouch either. He came off the bench for the final 13 games of the season. However, he still managed to contribute 18.1 points per game. His size, athleticism, and basketball IQ make him a great fit for the Lakers’ style of play.
Red Raiders’ Kevin Obanor is another solid choice, a breakout star from the NCAA tournament. He was a key contributor to Oral Roberts’ historic run to the Sweet 16. Obanor transferred to Texas Tech, where he averaged. 10 points and 5.5 rebounds.
With Jarred Vanderbilt, Wenyen Gabriel, and Mo Bamba‘s future unclear, any one of these forwards could be a low-risk but high-reward option for the Los Angeles Lakers.
This is only the first batch of draft prospects; they could step in and help the team right away or take a few years to develop. With the Lakers looking to make a big splash in the draft, they should keep their options open and continue scouting all the available options. Los Angeles is still open to trading guard D’Angelo Russell, who they could package with draft picks to bring in a third-star player.
